Critic of museum chief is uninformed

I am wondering who Charles Maxwell is, who thinks that outgoing president William Brown has injured Bishop Museum's image (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 2). He has not been around the museum that I know of, and I am serving my fourth term since 1982 as a director, and have never heard of a Charles Maxwell at a meeting -- who can he be that he knows so much about the museum?

An uninformed opinion? He is certainly entitled to it, but it cannot in any way affect the cutting-edge science of the new science adventure building, the absolutely stunning exhibit of royal featherwork, unparalleled in the world, and a wonderful response from the community toward funding the rehabilitation and restoration of Hawaiian Hall. His name is not on the list of donors for the refurbishing of everyone's favorite whale in that room!

Isabella Abbott
Waialae Iki

Even the Irish know smoking ban is best

Re: "Smoking ban to be stricter: Some business owners say the new law will reduce their customer base" (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 1): Thank you for your article that shows how most of Hawaii's business owners look forward to the fairness, health rewards and economic benefits of our new "smoke-free workplaces" law.

This makes sense. Published studies consistently show no negative effects, and possible revenue increases, with the implementation of popular smoke-free laws that include restaurants and bars. And business owners can surely look forward to reduced costs and increased customer and employee satisfaction.

Unfortunately, bar owner Bill Comerford, who has stated that 60 percent of his customers are smokers, fears he will lose their business.

I can't understand why Mr. Comerford is so opposed to offering his customers the atmosphere of an authentic Irish pub. After all, real Irish pubs (that is, pubs in Ireland) have been 100 percent smoke-free since March 2004. Since then, Éire business revenues have been on the rise, employee health has substantially improved and St. Patrick's Day celebrations have been a little bit greener.

Mark Levin
Associate professor
William S. Richardson School of Law
University of Hawaii, Manoa

Teenager stood up against noisemakers

Wayne Lepulu, the 15-year-old boy who was shot after confronting a noisemaker in his neighborhood, stood up against what many of us have learned to live with, that some individuals think they can be as noisy as they want to. This attitude disrespects us all.

Whatever the source -- modified mufflers, low-flying helicopters, leaf-blowers -- there are laws in place to protect us from the unnecessary noise. However, in recent years the situation seems to have worsened. Why aren't laws enforced?

Our quality of life must not be sacrificed to a minority of disrespectful and law-breaking individuals.

Lepulu is in the hospital because he no longer want to see his family's and his own quality of life infringed upon by a minority of noisemakers. For help, contact Citizens Against Noise (www.hawaiicanhush.net). Once he gets well, I am sure the group will be pleased to make the teenager an honorary member.

My best wishes to Lepulu for a speedy and complete recovery.

Michael Mueller
Honolulu

Photographer trying to keep what's his

Regarding photographer Kim Taylor Reece's lawsuit against the artist who allegedly used the likeness of one his photos in the stained glass copyright infringement issue (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 3):

I think that with this particular issue Kim's intentions aren't that he owns the hula or hula poses. It seems there is an intention to sidetrack the issue, and some folks aren't listening. We must not forget that Kim's images have probably done more to promote the hula and Hawaiian culture all over the world more than any other artist living in Hawaii. He's donated countless work and time for free to organizations like the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and numerous Hawaiian organizations, and has the utmost respect of many members of the Hawaiian hula community.

Someone seems to be losing sight of the issue here. It appears that this particular image was exactly copied from his photo. His intentions are not that he "owns" the hula -- that notion is ludicrous. As an artist, by law, he has the right to protect his copyrighted image, or it becomes considered as "free" in the public domain. He is just protecting his right. That's the real issue here.

Bill Romerhaus
Haleiwa

Dogs' bad owners left mess and lied about it

I am 9 years old. Last Sunday my family and I went to Kaaawa Beach Park. My mom said, "I've been coming to this beach for 25 years." We have been going there ever since I was born.

We were swimming and playing in the sand. We were having a lot of fun when two ladies came with about five dogs. They came right where we were playing and let their dogs poop in the sand and water. We all watched as the ladies left their dogs' poop there.

My mother and sister asked them, "Did your dogs just get through using the bathroom in the water and the sand?" The one lady with blond hair said, "No. Why, do you own the beach?" She was rude and didn't show any care about all of us kids being right there.

After they left, my aunty and I checked to see if they were telling the truth. My aunty and I saw the poop in the water and another pile of poop in the sand that the lady with blond hair covered up with sand. Then she had turned it over so people might step on it without knowing it was there.

I didn't like the ladies and what they did. Now we learned a lesson about that -- if a person is doing something wrong, tell them so that they know it's wrong even if they are older than me.

I know they were lying.

Sanoe Whitmarsh
Age 9
Kalihi Valley

Bush could use advice from Lincoln on war

Abraham Lincoln met with his generals and cabinet periodically to assess the progress of the Civil War and to make necessary changes in the military command structure and strategy. What is the intent of the current, well-orchestrated Bush Iraq "strategy" conference, with high level military and civilian members, in what has become a colossal failure?

Are these meetings prompted by domestic politics, i. e. retention of power by the Bush administration, or a genuine desire to end the carnage and chaos? The White House strategists, as we have seen, are very adept in revising scenarios and rhetoric reinforcing the myth of a president being on top of things. Can any constructive changes come out of these meetings with an imperial president and a rubber stamp conference? President Bush should take a lesson from President Lincoln on how to govern a nation at a critical time.

A. Locascio
Honolulu

Bottle returner don't get full redemption

On a recent morning I took 200 plastic water bottles to the Reynolds Recycling Center at Kapolei, expecting to receive $10 at five cents a bottle. I was told by the attendant that the center could no longer accept anyone's count and that I should put my bottles into a plastic garbage can, which was then weighed. I was paid $6 for my redemption fees. When I asked what had happened to the extra $4, I was told that the state set the weight for plastic bottles.

So, I guess I have two questions: Who sets the weight for bottles that vary greatly in size, thickness and weight, and who gets the extra money that we pay when we buy the products, but which we don't get back when we redeem them?

I guess it is no wonder that the state government is running a financial surplus.

Charles A. York
Kapolei

Legislators must seek nurse-to-patient ratio

When the bus drivers were prohibited from driving beyond a certain hour on the job during the H-1 freeway closure on Sept. 5, it made sense. However, when a nurse is scheduled for a 12-hour-or-more shift to make certain your health package is kept up to par when you are in need of care, no consumer protection measure is available. A minimum quality of oversight is clearly lacking in this field.

When the Legislature tried to instill the same type of consumer protection measure that is awarded to bus drivers and their passengers into the health arena, they failed.

With Rep. Dennis Arakaki no longer in office to keep up the effort for a sensible nurse-to- patient ratio, as was contained in House Bill 542, we must rely on those who have this expertise to continue the fight.

We are fortunate to have legislators such as Reps. Josh Green, Rida Cabanilla and Marilyn Lee, with their extensive health care experience, able to voice our concerns. The value of this is simple, it will save lives -- and one could be yours.

Robert Caires
Honolulu

Tough diplomacy needed to control Kim

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is an unbalanced human being and exhibits anti-social behavior; he needs to be rehabilitated.

Politicians, bureaucrats and diplomats need to be retrained to be the pack leader.

Every administration since the armistice in the 1950s has been coddling and giving affection, money and bribes and rewarding bad behavior. It's backwards foreign policy. The policy should be to encourage trust, respect, then "affection." Kim needs to experience some exercise, discipline, then affection from the international community first; then we can move to rules, boundaries and limitations.

Being calm, assertive and consistent with Kim will bring balance, calmness and submissiveness from North Korea.

Should we send "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan to negotiate with Kim instead of sending Condi Rice? He's been in the "red zone" too long!

Bruce Wong
Honolulu

How to write us

The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (~175 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.